Last decisive quarter

The senior loses the cup final in the final minutes

| Saturday, 28 December 2019

Básquet Girona has not been able to win against Azpeitia after being ahead of the scoreboard for most of the match. A balanced first few minutes have been followed by the senior’s dominance of the game from the rebound, the offensive activity inside and the feeling of the team on both sides of the court. An incontestable last period of Spencer Reeves in the triple (5/5) together with the contribution of Lowrance under the hoops, were decisive for the rival to win the final.   

The Azpeitia pavilion has presented an unbeatable setting for a final and the match has started as a head-to-head match: a competitive duel with alternatives. The Juaristi had the initiative but the senior did not stay back and followed the wake of the rival based on the leadership of Albert Sàbat and the determination in the paint (7/12). Little by little, the team from Girona has been adapting to the rhythm of the game and has managed to get ahead of the scoreboard after a triple by Menno Dijkstra (11-13), an advantage for the minimum as it would end in the first period after a local triple (19-20).

The second period began with a partial 0-10, with eight points from Herbert Graham, which placed the first maximum for the visitors (19-30, 12′). Defensive solidarity was decisive in this first difference, causing the rival’s first point not to arrive until almost the fifth minute of play. The Girona team have never lost their face on the scoreboard and in the game, loading more on the rebound (24 to 18 opponent) and adding from the free throw -6/6- (29-37).

The rematch started with the defenses winning (6-4 in the first four minutes) but a home triple put Juaristi four points away. The match has entered a scenario of alternatives in which the senior has once again asserted his offensive power on the inside to leave no room for the opponent. A three-pointer from Sàbat restored Girona’s lead to over ten points (42-53, 28). The period ended with the same eight point lead as at halftime (47-55).

The last ten minutes have decided the cup for the local side, with an inspired Reeves from the triple (5/5) who has led the external activity of his team (7 triples). An initial basket by Mor Niang was answered with two consecutive three-pointers that brought the distance to four points (53-57, 32′). Despite Sàbat’s triple, a 5-0 run would put the distance to two points in the frenetic final moments of the game. A triple by Reeves would put Juaristi ahead after many minutes but Herbert Graham answered with the same letter (61-63).

Two consecutive triples have put the locals in front and Girona’s paint has once again been the revalidated one. However, a three-pointer by Reeves, the seventh of the period and fifth in particular in the fourth quarter, has placed the difference from nine to 6 points with half a minute left. Despite Saturday’s treble, the cup has remained in Azpeitia.   

*Statements by Alex Formento:

“In general, you can never be happy to lose a final but you can be proud of the team because we played a great game. We had six minutes to go when we lost the control we had managed so well for the previous 34 minutes. We had a huge game and a huge effort in an away game in a strong atmosphere. Between some mistake on our part and a great opponent’s success, with some point shot that went in, the game got away from us in the last few minutes.”

“I want to thank so many people from Girona who have come to support us. very grateful We will get up and keep learning. It will surely be useful for the upcoming appointments that await us. We are a proud runner-up of the LEB Plata cup.”  

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Photo: Sergi Geronès